Man Arrested After Ramming Fence, Entering John Mellencamp’s Home

Indiana police have arrested a man accused of breaking and entering into John Mellencamp’s Bloomington, Ind., home.

According to local news affiliates, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department responded to an alarm call around 6AM on Thursday. Upon arriving at the singer’s residence, police found the gate busted open and a man, later identified as Robert Carter, inside a building on the property. Carter allegedly told authorities he was there to arrest Mellencamp for supporting a different government than Carter. Police said the suspect admitted to kicking down the singer’s door. He was taken into custody and charged with burglary, residential entry and criminal trespass.

This is not the suspect's first run-in with the law. According to police reports, Carter was arrested earlier this week for carrying a handgun without a license.

Mellencamp is an outspoken liberal, a viewpoint that doesn’t always go over well with his fans. He has been critical toward Presidents Donald Trump and George W. Bush in the past. The musician lent his support to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, the singer admitted his political beliefs don't align with any party lines. "I don’t trust the government. I don’t trust the Democrats. I don’t trust the Republicans," he explained. "I’m a little bit more Democratic than I am Republican, but really I’m a socialist. And that’s where it’s at.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was not at home when the break-in occurred. In addition to his Bloomington property, Mellencamp shares a New York City apartment with his fiance, actress Meg Ryan. The singer is scheduled to kick off his John Mellencamp Show tour this evening, Feb. 7, with performances planned through April. He is touring in support of Other People's Stuff, a compilation album of cover songs released in late 2018.